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Show D7 DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE August 2011 MEN'S BASKETBALL Training puts Runnin' in Utes Todd Patton STAFF WRITER QumVow: Read about Coach K's plans to restore tradition and belief in the sport >> D1 0 SPENCER SANDSTROM/The Daily Utah Chronicle Utah point guard Josh Watkins is one of four remaining players from the Runnin' Utes' last season. With new head coach Larry Krystkowiak, Utah plans to rebuild itself and become competitive and prominent in the national picture. PATTON continued from Page D4 who will lead the way for a team with astronomical expectations. But again, it's nothing new for this program. It's well-known that football reigns supreme on cam- pus. What all of us should know, however, is that gymnastics is the most successful program at the U. Having been a top program every year of its existence tells you that this conference switch will only bring a different look, not different results. We will still see those national cham- The men's basketball team is going through a huge transition. A new coach, a new conference and new players will leave a clean slate to reshape the image of the Runnin' Utes. Leaving multiple losing seasons and uncertainty behind, newly hired head coach Larry Krystkowiak will try to rejuvenate the Utes. Taking over for former coach Jim Boylen, Krystkowiak comes with an impressive resume includes stints with the Montana Grizzlies, NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and New Jersey Nets. Taking on the task of entering a new and more competitive conference in the Pac-12, Krystkowiak will attempt to bring prominence back to a struggling program. After losing a number of key players to transfers during the damaging Jim Boylen era, the Utes are left with just four returning players in centers David Foster and Jason Washburn and guards Chris Hines and Josh Watkins. Adding junior college transfers and freshmen just out of high school, the ultimate challenge lies in integrating old and new. After losing star forward Will Clyburn and promising freshman J.J. O'Brien via transfers, Krystkowiak immediately had to begin the recruiting process to field an entire team. The recruiting and landing of five 3-star recruits, according to www.Yahoo!Rivals.com, in a matter of two months was much needed. Names such as Javon Dawson, Dijon Farr and George Matthews will look to have an immediate impact on the court. Even the man called "Coach K" couldn't help but be pleased with the progress he and his coaching staff made in the few short months after his hiring. "The reality is, this time of year everybody is pretty excited about their recruiting class. But I am very happy with the transfers, with the (junior college) kids, the high school kids and with the walk-ons. Every facet of it, I'm thrilled about," Krystkowiak said. With the eight new scholarship players and three walk-ons, a read on this team might not come for fans until games actually begin in November. Expectations under the new coaching regime will, however, be high both on the court and in the community. Although the pressure to be immediately competitive is daunting with the conference switch, the newly hired head coach is optimistic. "We're going to take care of business, we're gonna put an honest day's work in with our players and our coaching staff," Krystkowiak said. "Were going to make sure our guys are carrying themselves properly on campus and in the community. We want to go about it the right way." Although a transition period with a new coach would be necessary in any case, veteran Ute players think getting to know new teammates on and off the court will be important. "First of all, learning how to play together as a team is key with a completely new team like this," said returning senior center David Foster. For Foster, the steps necassary to gain cohesiveness in order to compete at a high level are apparent. "We play everyday—it's huge to get to know each other's skills, the passing abilities and players' abilities to defend," he said. "Lifts together, they show how mentally tough each guy can be. That'll carry over to the court." With UCLA and Arizona on the schedule year after year, the move to the Pac-12 can be a benefit along with a burden. It should improve, but it will also bring recruiting and monetary resources, it will also bring a higher level of competition each week, which is something that the top-heavy Mountain West Conference lacked. The word "new" will be the theme for the 2011 University of Utah men's basketball program. Whether it's the coach, players or even fans, adjustments will have to be made. "The bottom line is that once we get started, it's going to take a lot of work," Krystkowiak said. pionship appearances and now conference championships. So when asked which will be more successful in their inaugural seasons in the Pac-12, gymnastics or football, the Red Rocks' history seems pretty conclusive. tpatton@ chronicle.utah.edu tweet a little hardelS2M,„_. need more tweets? 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